Paper feeding device, in particular for cardboard production line

ABSTRACT

The present invention concerns a compact, simple, and economical supply device providing high speed splicing with no operator intervention, as well as automatic spool loading and unloading. The paper supply device ( 1 ) comprises two winders ( 2, 3 ) each supporting a spool of paper ( 4, 5 ), the first of which is a working spool and the second, a reserve spool, and a mechanism ( 6 ) for automatically splicing the end of the strip on the working spool with the beginning of the strip on the reserve spool. It is characterized in that the automatic splicing device ( 6 ) is located between the two winders ( 2, 3 ) and comprises two diversion rollers ( 60, 61 ) which rotate freely on at least one common plate ( 62 ), the plate rotating on a axle affixed to a trolley ( 63 ) so as to alternately place the diversion rollers ( 60, 61 ) in a first connection position and then in a second connection position, corresponding respectively to the working spool, with the trolley ( 63 ) being movable in translation from one spool to the other.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The instant invention concerns a paper supply device, specifically foruse in a cardboard manufacturing production line, said device comprisingtwo parallel winders, one behind the other, each supporting a spool ofpaper, the first spool being a working spool and the second a reservespool, said winders being alternately activated to ensure a continuoussupply of paper to the production line, said device also comprising adrive means for the feed mechanisms, a means for detecting the end ofthe strip on the working spool, and a means for automatically attachingthe end of the strip on the working spool to the beginning of the stripon the reserve spool.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the cardboard manufacturing industry such paper supply devices arewell known. They usually consist of two winders, each in the form of asupport with two arms holding the spool of paper, which is emptied whenthe production line drive rollers exert a pull on the spool of paper.When the working spool, which is rotating, is joined to the reservespool, which is stopped, either the production line slows down due tothe resistance resulting from the new full spool starting up, or elsethe roll of paper yields to the pull exerted. This affects both theoutput of the production line and the quality of cardboard produced.

In order to connect the end of the working spool strip with thebeginning of the reserve spool strip, a specific assembly device that isseparate from the supply mechanism is usually used, currently known as a“splicer.” An operator is required to intervene when the rolls arejoined in order to prepare the connection, properly position thebeginning of the strip in relation to the end of the strip, and ensurethat they are correctly spliced. Thus, splicing cannot take placeautomatically; an operator is required. The “splicer,” usually locatedoverhead, is a heavy, expensive piece of equipment. Furthermore, wheneither the type of paper or paper width must be changed, manualintervention is required for splicing and repositioning the arms of thewinders, etc. Since it is not possible to intervene instantly, theoperator is obliged to slow the production line down, decreasing output.

Moreover, in order to remove an empty spool and replace it with a fullone, the arms must be lowered, separated, and then closed. Thisintervention takes five minutes of an operator's time. Although thespools can be loaded and unloaded automatically, this takes a long time.Furthermore, the empty or full spools are manipulated by conventionaltrolleys equipped with a means for gripping the spools.

Certain semi-automatic or automatic splicing devices which exist in theart are described in the following publications. In Publication DE-B-1281 766, the assembly device comprises two parallel loose rollers,arranged between the two spools at the top portion and attached to asupport which pivots on the axle of the third loose roller located atthe lower portion, placing the first roller in contact with the reservespool in order to connect the end of the working spool strip with thebeginning of the reserve spool strip. The first two rollers are attachedto a turning plate which pivots 180° and has a handle for manipulation.Thus, the system is very complex, expensive, and does not functionentirely automatically, since an operator must intervene to tilt therollers 180° and complete the connection to the other spool.

In publication FR-A-230 571, the assembly device consists of a trolleysupporting two diversion rollers, said trolley moving along a ramp abovethe spools, and said ramp alternately tilting from one spool to theother in order for the strips to be spliced. This device is complex,costly, and clumsy. Furthermore, starting up the winder according tothis method is difficult, as it requires that a strip be introduced intothe upper diversion rollers.

Finally, in Publication F.R.-A-2 587 982, the splicing device describedis for use with superimposed spools. It comprises a movable trolleylocated beside the spools, holding a support with three diversionrollers between which the strip passes. Once connected, the supportpivots about the central roller between two end positions that areangularly offset by approximately 90° in order to place one or the otherdiversion rollers in contact with the waiting spool. Three cylinders areused to pivot said support, one advance cylinder and two contactcylinders. Thus, the device is relatively complex to use, guide, andadjust. The fact that the spools are superimposed complicates theloading and unloading process; these operations are difficult toautomate because the manipulations must be performed overhead.

The goal of the present invention is to overcome these disadvantages byproposing a supply device that is simple to use, requires a minimalinvestment and only a small amount of space, and offers high speed,automatic splicing with no operator intervention, as well as automaticspool loading and unloading. The essential aim of the invention is tosignificantly reduce the time required to prepare and change spoolswhile at the same time offering a means for splicing the spools at veryhigh speed with no risk to the paper or to the production line.

This goal is achieved by the supply device as described in the preamble,characterized in that the automatic splicing means is located betweenthe two winders, parallel to them, and comprises two diversion rollersthat are parallel and separated by a predetermined fixed interval, saiddiversion rollers extending at least along the entire width of the paperon said spools and receiving the strip of paper corresponding to theworking spool, and said two diversion rollers rotating freely on atleast one common plate and being driven to rotate on their axles by thestrip of paper as it unfurls, while the plate itself rotates at a fixedangle on a trolley so that it alternately places the diversion rollersin a first connected position and then in a second connected position,respectively, corresponding to the working spool, with said trolleymoving in translation perpendicular to the axis of the spools so as toplace one of the diversion rollers in contact with the working spool insaid connected positions. Said splicing device also comprises a meansfor driving said plate and a means for driving said trolley.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a preferred form of the invention, the means for driving said platecomprises at least one motor and one mechanical transmission between thedrive shaft and the plate to alternately turn the plate at an anglesmaller than 360°, with the limits of this angle corresponding to thetwo connection positions for said diversion rollers, said angle rangingfrom 250° to 290° and preferably being equal to 270°.

The automatic splicing means may consist of at least two parallel railsattached to the floor perpendicular to said spools with the rails beingseparated by a distance which is at least equal to the span of thespools, and each rail being equipped with a rack. The trolley may haveat least one motorized beam extending between the two rails, equipped ateach end with a pinion engaging the rack of the corresponding rail, andthe drive means for the movable trolley may comprise at least one motorand one mechanical transmission connected to said motorized beam.

Each winder advantageously comprises at least one chassis attached tothe floor, one platform attached to said chassis, and two pairs of driverollers parallel to the spool axis, said two pairs being aligned anddesigned to support the roll of paper; the drive means for the windercomprises a motor and a mechanical transmission between the drive shaftand one of the drive rollers, with the other drive rollers being drivenby the rotating spool.

In the preferred form of the embodiment, each winder comprises twoplatforms, each supporting a pair of drive rollers, said two platformsmoving in translation symmetrically in relation to the median axle A ofsaid device, said median axle being perpendicular to the axis of thespools, in order to adjust the interval between the two pairs of rollersto the width of said spool.

The chassis of each winder may comprise two sections that are parallelto each other and to the spool axis, at least one section supporting therack, and the platforms may comprise at least two slides which slidealong or inside said sections and at least one motor, which is astepping motor, driving a pinion that engages said rack.

Advantageously, each winder comprises two turning vertical stops eachlocated between two drive rollers in the same pair, designed to blockthe spool axially.

In the preferred form of the invention, each winder comprises acounterweight designed to exert a push on each spool toward driverollers.

Said counterweight comprises, for example, an arm moving in verticaltranslation along a fixed post between an upper position, correspondingto a full spool, and a lower position, corresponding to an empty spool,as well as a means for automatically raising said arm; and said armsupporting at least two loose pulleys that are parallel to each otherand to the spool and designed to contact the spool.

The arm may comprise four pulleys, two exterior loose pulleys designedto contact the spool when it is full and two interior loose pulleysdesigned to contact the spool when it is empty, and the means forraising the arm may comprise a dual-action cylinder controlled by anelectrovalve.

Advantageously, the means for detecting the end of the strip on theworking spool consists of at least one detector associated with saidcounterweight and designed to detect the arm position that correspondsto the minimum working spool diameter which would permit connection ofthe end of the strip on said spool to the beginning of the strip on thereserve spool.

The means for detecting the end of the strip on the working spool isdesigned to send one signal to the winder drive means corresponding tothe reserve spool, signaling the reserve spool to rotate. The beginningof the strip on this spool has a visual indicator and a cold glue meshextending over its entire width.

Preferably, the splicing means comprises a presence detector designed todetect the visual indicator located on the rotating reserve spool, saidpresence detector being designed to send a simultaneous signal to thetrolley drive means and to the plate drive means to displace the trolleytowards the reserve spool and to move said diversion rollers from thefirst connection position to the second, and conversely, depending uponwhich spool is the working spool.

In the preferred embodiment, the automatic splicing means comprises atleast one cutting blade generally extending over the entire width of thespools, located essentially below said trolley and movable in verticaltranslation between a lower waiting position and an upper workingposition where it cuts the end of the strip on the working spool.

In addition, the device according to the invention advantageouslycomprises a means for automatically loading and unloading the spoolswhich removes the empty spools and replaces them with full ones.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment, each winder comprisesbetween its two platforms a plate which can move in vertical translationbetween a lower waiting position and an upper working position, saidplate comprising a track consisting of several motorized rollers thatare parallel to each other and perpendicular to the spool axis, saidrollers being rotated by a motorized device and designed to support andaxially displace said spool when the plate is raised in order toposition it in the winder if it is a full spool, or to remove it fromthe winder if it is an empty one.

The plate may have at least two vertical dual-action cylinders todisplace it from the lower position to the upper position, andconversely, and the motorized device may comprise at least one motor andone chain and pinion transmission or gear and pulley transmission tosimultaneously drive said rollers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of the present invention will be better understood from thefollowing description of one embodiment, provided as a non-limitingexample, and with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic overhead view of the device of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an overhead view of the device of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the device of the invention;

FIGS. 4A through 4E are respectively, a front view, an overhead view, aleft view, a right view, and inside dashed line E—E, the splicing meansof the device of the invention;

FIG. 5 and associated FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D and 5E are schematic views ofthe device of the invention showing the splicing means in variousoperational positions in a first direction of operation; and

FIG. 6 and associated FIGS. 6E, 6F, 6G, 6H, and 6A are schematic viewssimilar to the preceding views for a second direction of operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the drawings, the paper supply device 1, designedspecifically to supply a cardboard manufacturing production line,comprises two winders 2, 3 parallel to each other and one behind theother, each designed to hold and unwind a spool of paper 4, 5, the firstspool 4 being the working spool and the second spool 5 being the reservespool, or vice versa. It also comprises a means 6 for automaticallysplicing the end of the working spool to the beginning of the reservespool, ensuring a continuous supply to the production line. Saidsplicing means 6 is located between the two winders 2, 3 and parallel tothem. The paper supply device 1 further comprises a means forautomatically loading and unloading spools 7, 8, 40 to remove the emptyspools and replace them with full ones. FIGS. 1 and 5 show reservespools 4′, 5′ for replacing spools 4, 5 on winders 2, 3.

Winders 2, 3 are identical. Consequently, the references for thecomponent parts will be the same for both winders. Winders 2, 3 eachcomprise a chassis 20 attached to the floor, two platforms 21, 22attached to said chassis and moving in translation in the direction ofarrows B symmetrically in relation to the median axis A of said device,said median axis being perpendicular to the axis of the spools. Eachplatform 21,22 comprises a pair of drive rollers 23, 24 that areparallel to the axis of the spool of paper and cause the spool to rotateon its axis. These rollers are preferably Pneuride® rollers but they maybe replaced by other equivalent rollers. Rollers 23, 24 of the twoplatforms of a single winder are aligned and they support and drive thespool of paper at its extremities. Winders 2, 3 each comprise drivemeans 25 which consists, in the embodiment shown, of a motor 26, a shaft27 supporting a motorized pulley 28 which uses a gear 29 to drive areceptor pulley 30 connected to one of the drive rollers 23. Obviously,other equivalent drive means could also be used. It is only necessary tomake one drive roller 23 rotate, as the second roller 24 isautomatically driven by the rotating spool of paper.

Chassis 20 consists of I-shaped sections 31 which are parallel to eachother and to the spool axis and supporting an inverted T-shaped rail 31′which guides platforms 21, 22 in translation in order to adjust theinterval between the two pairs of drive rollers to the width of thepaper on the spool. For this purpose, a drive means 32 is provided onsaid winder, consisting of a stepping motor 33 coupled with a shaft 34driving a pinion 35 which engages a rack 36 that is solidly attachedbelow the upper branch of section 31. Each section 31 may comprise sucha rack 36. In this case, corresponding pinions 35 are interconnected bya transmission shaft 37. Each platform 21, 22 is additionally equippedwith slides 38, four in number, engaging rails 31′ and sliding freely.Winders 2, 3 also each comprise two turning vertical stops 39, eachlocated between two drive rollers 23, 24 in a single pair and designedto axially block said spool of paper. They may consist, for example ofloose pulleys attached to ball bearings.

Winders 2, 3 are also each equipped with a counterweight 9 having an arm90 supporting loose pulleys 91 which are parallel to each other and tothe axis of the spool of paper, and contact the latter to exert a pushon the corresponding spool toward its drive rollers 23, 24. Said arm 90moves in vertical translation according to arrows C along a fixed post92 between an upper position when the spool is full, and a lowerposition when the spool is empty. It moves from top to bottom andconversely, guided by slides 96 which are integral with fixed post 92.Pulleys 91 rotate freely on fixed axles and ball bearings, pins, orother equivalent devices. Four pulleys contact the spool two by two,with the exterior pulleys contacting the spool when it is full and theinside pulleys contacting the spool when it is empty. In FIG. 3, spools4, 5 are shown in different stages of the unwinding process: the boldlines show the full spools, which may reach a maximum diameter of 1700mm.; the dashed lines show nearly empty spools, with a diameter limitedto about 400 mm., allowing them to be connected to the reserve spool;the shorter dashed lines show empty spools, that is, with only the spoolitself remaining which may be 120 mm. in diameter. The spool is shownbetween drive rollers 23, 24 of the winder, as well as between pulleys91 of the counterweight to show the minimum admissible diameters and thecorresponding contact areas. Counterweight 9 also comprises a means 93for automatically lifting arm 90 with a dual-action pneumatic cylinder94 exerting counter pressure and controlled by electrovalve 95. Thereare devices provided at the end of the path (not shown) to detect theraised and lowered positions of arm 90 and send corresponding signals toa control unit (not shown) with a robot which can control the entireoperation of device 1. When the spool connection has been completed, arm90 of the empty spool is raised and the other arm is automaticallylowered under the control of the robot.

Further with reference to FIGS. 4A through 4E, the automatic splicingmeans also comprises two diversion rollers 60, 61 parallel to each otherand to the axes of spools 4, 5, said diversion rollers being separatedby a predetermined fixed interval extending across the entire span ofthe spools and together receiving the strip of paper from the workingspool. These diversion rollers 60, 61 may be made of steel, rubber,polyurethane, or any other suitable material. They rotate freely on acommon plate 62, which rotates on a fixed axle of trolley 63, driven byplate drive means 64 so as to alternately place said diversion rollers60, 61 in a first connected position and in a second connected positionaccording to which spool is the working spool. As for trolley 63, it isattached to a chassis 65 affixed to the floor and moves in translationalong said chassis in the direction of arrows D perpendicular to theaxis of the spools, driven by trolley drive means 66.

Diversion rollers 60, 61 each consist of a hollow tube 67 attached to atraversing axle 68 by means of two ball bearings 69 provided at the endsof the tube. Traversing axles 68 are solidly attached at theirextremities to two plates 62, each comprising a central shaft 70rotating in a corresponding wall of trolley 63. At least one centralshaft 70 is attached either directly or by a reducing gear or othermechanical transmitter to an output shaft of a motor 71 constituting thedrive means 64 for the plate for modifying the angular position ofdiversion rollers 60, 61 as explained below.

Chassis 65 comprises two parallel rails 72, perpendicular to the axes ofthe spools and separated by an interval which at least equals the spanof the spools, and trolley 63 comprises at least one motorized beam 73extending between the two rails 72 and a drive means 66 consisting of amotor-reduction gear 74 controlling a drive gear 75, the last pinion 76of which engages a rack 77 integral with rail 72 in order to displacesaid trolley along chassis 65. Preferably, trolley 63 comprises twomotor-reduction gears 74 on either side, driven synchronously to ensureperfectly parallel translational displacement.

The splicing means 6 also comprises a serrated cutting blade 11, shownschematically in FIGS. 5 and 6, extending generally across the entirewidth of the spools, located below trolley 63 and moving in verticaltranslation between a lower waiting position and an upper workingposition where it sections the end of the strip on the working spoolafter connection. For this purpose, cutting blade 11 may be associatedwith a dual-action cylinder, a rack and pinion system, a cam system, orany other system suitable for displacing it vertically from bottom totop and conversely.

The splicing means is specially designed to automatically connect theend of the strip on the working spool with the beginning of the strip onthe reserve spool at high speed, without any operator intervention. Itis only necessary to prepare the fully loaded reserve spools by applyinga cold glue mesh adhesive strip to the beginning of the strip and allalong the width of the strip parallel to the spool axis and to positiona visual marker indicating the location of the cold glue strip.

Next, the operation of the automatic splicing device 6 will be describedwith particular reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 and the associated schemasshowing the position of diversion rollers 60, 61 in differentoperational phases depending upon whether the working spool is spool 4or spool 5.

In FIG. 5, the working spool corresponds to spool 4. Winder 2 makes thisspool rotate at a particular speed such that the speed at which thestrip of paper unrolls corresponds to the speed demanded downstream onthe production line. This speed may reach up to 1000 m/mn. Trolley 63 onthe splicing means occupies a central position between the two winders2, 3 and the diversion rolls 60, 61 of assembly means 6 are superimposedin the position shown in schema D of FIG. 5. Roller 60 is above roller61, the latter being lightly shaded in the drawings to assistcomprehension. The strip of paper of said working spool 4 moves alongbetween the two diversion rollers 60, 61 according to the arrows towardsanother diversion roller 10 located above to guide and shift the stripof paper toward the downstream portion of the production line (notshown). When working spool 4 reaches the minimum diameter permittingconnection to reserve spool 5, as shown by dashed lines in FIG. 5, plate62 turns slightly in a counterclockwise direction to place rollers 60,61 in the position shown by schema E in FIG. 5, called the firstconnecting position. Trolley 63 moves toward reserve spool 5 to placeroller 61 near spool 5 within nearly 1 cm. of its surface, and winder 3is placed in operation to rotate reserve spool 5 at the same speed asworking spool 4. Reserve spool 5 has on its periphery a visual indicatorand a cold glue mesh forming an adhesive strip across its entire width.When the visual index is detected by splicing means 6, trolley 63 movesclose to spool 5 to place roller 61, encircled by the end of the stripfrom working spool 4, in contact with the beginning of the strip onreserve spool 5. At that instant the two strips of paper adhere to eachother and the end of one strip pulls the beginning of the other striptoward the production line. Simultaneously, cutting blade 11 of splicingmeans 6 is activated and sections the end of the strip on spool 4. Thisspool can be automatically removed and replaced by spool 4′ whichbecomes new reserve spool 4.

Reference is made to schema E of FIG. 6. Next, trolley 63 returns to itscentral position and plate 62 turns in a clockwise direction to placerollers 60, 61 in the position shown in schema H in which the tworollers are again superimposed, but roller 61 is above roller 60. Whenworking spool 5 reaches the minimum diameter for connection to reservespool 4, as shown by dashed lines in FIG. 6, plate 62 turns slightly ina clockwise direction to place rollers 60, 61 in the position shown byschema A of FIG. 6, called the second connecting position, trolley 63 isdisplaced toward reserve spool 4 to place roller 60 nearly 1 cm. awayfrom the surface of reserve spool 4, and winder 2 is activated to rotatereserve spool 4 at the same speed is working spool 5. Reserve spool 4has a visual indicator on the periphery and a web of cold glue formingan adhesive strip across its entire width. When the visual indicator isdetected by assembly means 6, trolley 63 moves close to spool 4 to placeroller 60, encircled by the end of the strip from working spool 5, incontact with the beginning of the strip on reserve spool 4. At thatinstant the two strips of paper adhere to each other and the end of onestrip pulls the beginning of the other strip toward the production line.Simultaneously, cutting blade 11 of splicing means 6 is activated andsections the end of the strip on spool 5. This spool can beautomatically removed and replaced by spool 5′ which becomes new reservespool 5.

Reference is made to schema A of FIG. 5. Next, trolley 63 returns to itscentral position and plate 62 turns counterclockwise to place rollers60, 61 in the position shown by schema D, with the two rollers againsuperimposed, roller 60 being above roller 61. These cycles can berepeated as many times as necessary.

To place diversion rollers 60,61 in the different positions going fromthe first connection position (schema E) to the second connectionposition (schema A), plate 62 alternately rotates less than one completeturn, said rotation being limited to 270°, for example. This originalconcept prevents the strip of paper from ever being lost as it movesbetween the two rollers 60, 61 and alternately connects one spool to theother in a continuous manner, without any interruption or manipulation.Furthermore, splicing means 6 comprises a presence detector (not shown)which detects the visual index located on the full reserve spool andsimultaneously sends a signal to the drive means 66 for trolley 63 andto drive means 64 for plate 62 to direct movement of the trolley towardthe reserve spool and to place diversion rollers 60, 61 in one or theother connection positions.

The paper supply device according to the invention also comprises ameans for automatically loading and unloading spools 7, 8, 40, removingthe empty spools and replacing them with full spools. The loading andunloading means 7, 8 outside unwinding devices 2, 3 are not detailed inthe present application. They are simply shown schematically asmotorized trolleys 7, 8 which position reserve spools 4′, 5′ or removeempty spools 4, 5 (see FIGS. 1 and 5). For this reason, trolleys 7, 8are displaced along rails attached to the floor, filoguided, radiocontrolled, or driven and controlled by any other equivalent means.

In addition, each winder 2, 3 comprises an internal means forautomatically loading and unloading spools 40. Said means 40 comprises aplate 41 positioned between two platforms 21, 22 on a specific chassis42 located between sections 31 of interrupted chassis 20. Platform 41comprises a pathway 43 consisting of several motorized rollers 44 whichare parallel to each other with inwardly curved central portions. Thispathway 43 is located below and inside the axle of the correspondingspool of paper. Rollers 44 are rotated simultaneously by a motor and achain and pinion or a gear and pulley device (not shown). In addition,platform 41 is movable in vertical translation between a lower, waitingposition in which path 43 does not contact the spool of paper, which isresting on its drive rollers 23, 24, and an upper working position inwhich path 43 contacts said spool, which has been raised above its driverollers 23, 24. For this purpose, two dual action pneumatic cylinders 45or some other similar means are provided beneath platform 41 to generatea vertical course of about 50-60 mm.

Consequently, to remove an empty spool or load a full spool onto awinder 2, 3, platform 41 is placed in the upper position and its path 43is activated in one direction or the other in order to axially displacethe corresponding spool towards either the exterior or the interior ofthe winder, according to the situation. Preferably, and when there isenough space available, the full spools are loaded using a trolley onone side of the winding devices and the empty spools are unloaded usinganother trolley on the other side of the winding devices, whileremaining within the axes of said spools. When there is not enoughspace, the empty spools are recovered using the same trolley thattransports the full spools, and then returned to storage. With twodirectional trolleys for each roller, the spools can be changed in lessthan 20 seconds.

Paper supply device 1 of the invention also comprises a control unit(not shown) which may consist of a central processing unit located at acontrol desk equipped with a robot which controls the various drivemeans according to the operational stage of the various sub-assembliesand associated detectors. It has been mentioned previously that thespool to be joined is rotated one time before it is spliced in order tomatch its speed to that of the spool being finished; this is done usinga variable change speed gear and an electronic system. Controlparameters can also be integrated, such as weight, grams, quality,number of meters, spool width, etc. Specifically, there are weighingmechanisms attached to platform 41 for measuring the weight of the fullspool, the weight used, and the weight remaining on the spool aftersplicing. This permits calculation of the number of meters on the stripof paper that have been used as well as the number of meters remainingto the nearest meter. Thus, it is possible to program the number ofmeters used before splicing is required, which essentially correspondsto a minimum diameter of 400 mm. In this case, once that number isreached, the robot activates trolley 63 of automatic assembly means 6and activates all the associated operations.

It is apparent from the foregoing description that the inventionachieves all its objectives. In particular, the paper supply device 1 isa relatively simple, compact and economical machine with totallyautomatic operation, primarily due to the automatic splicing means 6 andwinding devices 2, 3 with automatic loading and unloading means allowingthe strip of paper to move at high speed and the spools to be connectedat this speed, and reducing manual intervention to a minimum.

The invention has been described in the unwinding mode for continuouslysupplying a production line. Another feature of the present invention isthat it can wind as well as unwind. Because of this, it can also be usedas a winding machine, particularly for preparing full spools from theleftovers on nearly empty spools. To avoid frequent use of spools with adiameter of less than 400 mm, they are loaded on the supply device wherea spool is unwound on an unwinding device and another spool is rolled onthe other unwinding device used as a winding machine, connecting thespools to create one spool of normal diameter. In this case, bothrotation speed and the automatic splicing means are controlled manuallyto complete the connection.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described, butextends to any modification or variation obvious to one skilled in theart while still remaining within the scope of the protection conferredin the attached claims. Likewise, the application of the invention isnot limited to spools of paper and a cardboard manufacturing productionline, but extends to any other equivalent application for fabric,non-woven material, and any other material in a strip on a spool.

What is claimed is:
 1. A paper supply device (1) for supplying paper fora cardboard manufacturing production line, the paper supply devicecomprising: a working spool having a longitudinal axis and a first spoolof paper on the working spool, the first spool of paper having a firstend; a reserve spool having a longitudinal axis and a second spool ofpaper on the reserve spool, the second spool of paper having a secondend; a first and second winder (2, 3) spaced from one another andparallel to each other; the first and second winder (2,3) each supportsone of the working spool and the reserve spool; a drive mechanism toalternately activate the first and second winder to ensure a continuoussupply of paper to the production line; a sensor for detecting the firstend of the first spool of paper on the working spool; an automaticsplicing device (6) for automatically joining the first end of the firstspool of paper with the second end of the second spool of paper; atrolley (63) having a trolley motor (66) to allow the trolley to move ina direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the working spooland the reserve spool; at least one common plate (62) that is supportedby the trolley and the at least one common plate having a fixed axle anda plate motor (64), the plate motor allowing the at least one commonplate to rotate about the fixed axle; two diversion rollers (60, 61)each having a central axle and the two diversion rollers are connectedto the at least one common plate to shift between a first and secondconnecting position, the two diversion rollers are separated by apredetermined fixed distance; wherein the two diversion rollers extendat least across an entire width of one of the working spool and thereceiving spool, the diversion rollers are designed to jointly receiveone of the first spool of paper and the second spool of paper, the twodiversion rollers rotate freely about the at least one common plate (62)and are driven to rotate on each respective central axles by one of thefirst spool of paper and the second spool of paper as it unrolls; thetrolley (63) moves to position one of the two diversion rollers tocontact with one of the working spool and the reserve spool while in oneof the first and second connecting position; the automatic splicingdevice (6) further comprises at least two parallel rails (72) attachedto a floor and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis ofthe working spool and the reserve spool, the at least two rails areseparated by a distance at least equal to the width of the paper on theworking spool and the reserve spool, the at least two parallel rails areequipped with a -rack (77)-, and the trolley (63) further comprises atleast one motorized beam (73) having first and second ends, themotorized beam extending between the at least two parallel rails andhaving a pinion (76) at the first and second ends which engages the rack(77) of the corresponding rails (72), the trolley motor (66) for drivingthe trolley (63) comprises at least one motor (74) and a mechanicaltransmission (75) coupled to the motorized beam (73).
 2. A paper supplydevice (1) for supplying paper for a cardboard manufacturing productionline, the paper supply device comprising: a working spool having alongitudinal axis and a first spool of paper on the working spool, thefirst spool of paper having a first end; a reserve spool having alongitudinal axis and a second spool of paper on the reserve spool, thesecond spool of paper having a second end; a first and second winder (2,3) spaced from one another and parallel to each other; the first andsecond winder (2,3) each supports one of the working spool and thereserve spool; a drive mechanism to alternately activate the first andsecond winder to ensure a continuous supply of paper to the productionline; a sensor for detecting the first end of the first spool of paperon the working spool; an automatic splicing device (6) for automaticallyjoining the first end of the first spool of paper with the second end ofthe second spool of paper; a trolley (63) having a trolley motor (66) toallow the trolley to move in a direction perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of the working spool and the reserve spool; at leastone common plate (62) that is supported by the trolley and the at leastone common plate having a fixed axle and a plate motor (64), the platemotor allowing the at least one common plate to rotate about the fixedaxle; two diversion rollers (60, 61) each having a central axle and thetwo diversion rollers are connected to the at least one common plate toshift between a first and second connecting position, the two diversionrollers are separated by a predetermined fixed distance; wherein the twodiversion rollers extend at least across an entire width of one of theworking spool and the receiving spool, the diversion rollers aredesigned to jointly receive one of the first spool of paper and thesecond spool of paper, the two diversion rollers rotate freely about theat least one common plate (62) and are driven to rotate on eachrespective central axles by one of the first spool of paper and thesecond spool of paper as it unrolls; the trolley (63) moves to positionone of the two diversion rollers to contact with one of the workingspool and the reserve spool while in one of the first and secondconnecting position; each of the first and second winders (2, 3) has atleast one chassis (20) attached to a floor, at least one platform (21,22) attached to the chassis and two pair of drive rollers (23, 24)parallel to at least one of the longitudinal axis of the working andreserve spools, the two pair of drive rollers (23, 24) are aligned andsupport one of the first and second spools of paper, the drive mechanism(25) for driving the winder comprises a motor (26), a motor shaft and amechanical transmission (27-30) for driving at least one drive roller(23) of at least one of the two pair of drive rollers.
 3. The papersupply device according to claim 2, wherein each of the first and secondwinders (2, 3) comprise first and second platforms (21, 22) thatrespectively supports a pair of drive rollers (23, 24), the first andsecond platforms are movable in a direction symmetrically to a medianaxis (A) of the paper supply device, the median axis is perpendicular toboth the longitudinal axis of the working and reserve spools so as toadjust a distance between the pair of drive rollers on the first andsecond platforms to a width of paper of at least one of the first andsecond spools of paper.
 4. The paper supply device according to claim 3,wherein the at least one chassis (20) of the first and second winders(2, 3) comprises two sections (31) that are parallel to each other andto the longitudinal axis of the working spool and the reserve spools, atleast one section supports a rack (36), and the first and secondplatforms (21, 22) each has at least two slides (38) which slide alongthe two sections and at least one step motor (33) drives a pinion (35)which engages the rack (36).
 5. The paper supply device according toclaim 3, wherein each of the first and second winders (2, 3) furthercomprise two vertical turning stops (39) located between a single pairof drive rollers (23, 24) for axially blocking a spool of paper.
 6. Thepaper supply device according to claim 2, wherein each of the first andsecond winders (2, 3) comprise a counterweight (9) designed to exertforce on one of the first and second spools of paper against the pair ofdrive rollers (23, 24).
 7. The paper supply device according to claim 6,wherein the counterweight (9) of each of the respective first and secondwinders comprises an arm (90) movable in a vertical direction along afixed pole (92), the arm (90) moves between an upper position, when oneof the working and reserve spools is full of paper, and a lowerposition, when the one of the working and reserve spools is empty ofpaper, as well as a lifting mechanism (93) for automatically raising thearm, the arm supporting at least two loose pulleys (91) that areparallel to each other and to the longitudinal axis of one of theworking and reserve spools, the loose pulleys are designed to contactone of the working and reserve spools.
 8. The paper supply deviceaccording to claim 7, wherein the arm (90) comprises four loose pulleys(91), two exterior loose pulleys designed to contact one of the workingand reserve spools, when full of paper, and two interior loose pulleysdesigned to contact the one of the working and reserve spools when emptyof paper.
 9. The paper supply device according to claim 7, wherein thearm (90) has a lifting mechanism (93) for automatically liftingcomprises a dual-action cylinder (94) controlled by an electrovalve(95).
 10. The paper supply device according to claim 7, wherein thesensor for detecting the first end of the first spool of paper comprisesat least one device for detecting the end of a course associated withthe counterweight (9) and designed to detect the arm positioncorresponding to a minimum admissible diameter of the working spool thatwould allow the first end of the first spool of paper to be connected tothe second end of the second spool of paper on the reserve spool. 11.The paper supply device according to claim 10, wherein the sensor fordetecting the first end of the first spool of paper on the working spoolis designed to send a signal to the drive mechanism (25) for the windercorresponding to the reserve spool for the drive mechanism (25) torotate the reserve spool, as the second spool of paper carries a visualindex and cold glue mesh extending over its entire width.
 12. The papersupply device according to claim 11, wherein the automatic splicingdevice (6) comprises a presence detector designed to detect a visualindicator located on the reserve spool that is being rotated, thepresence detector is designed to simultaneously send a signal to thetrolley motor (66) and to the plate motor (64) to displace the trolleytowards the reserve spool and to place the two diversion rollers fromthe first connecting position to the second connecting position, andconversely, depending upon which spool is currently dispensing paper.13. The paper supply device according to claim 12, wherein the automaticsplicing device (6) comprises at least one cutting blade (11) extendinggenerally across the entire span of a spool of paper, located generallybelow the trolley (63) and movable in a vertical direction from a lowerwaiting position to an upper working position in which the at least onecutting blade (11) cuts the end of one of the working and reserve spoolsof paper.
 14. The paper supply device according to claim 3, furthercomprises an automatic loader (7, 8, 40) for automatically unloadingempty spools and automatically loads full spools.
 15. The paper supplydevice according to claim 14, wherein each of the first and secondwinders (2, 3) respectively comprise, between first and second platforms(21, 22), a third platform (41) that is movable in a vertical directionfrom a lower waiting position to an upper working position, the thirdplatform has a track (43) and a plurality of motorized rollers (44)parallel to each other and perpendicular to a spool axis, the pluralityof motorized rollers are rotated by a roller motor and designed tosupport and axially displace the respective spool when the thirdplatform is in the upper position so as to position the spool in one offirst and second winders, if the spool is full or remove from one offirst and second winders, if the spool is empty.
 16. The paper supplydevice according to claim 15, wherein the third platform (41) comprisesat least two vertical dual-action cylinders (45) designed to displacethe third platform from the lower position to the upper position andvice versa.
 17. The paper supply device according to claim 15, whereinthe roller motor comprises at least one motor and one of a chain andpinion transmission, and a pulley and gear transmission for driving themotorized rollers simultaneously.
 18. A paper supply device (1) forsupplying paper for a cardboard manufacturing production line wherein,the paper supply device comprises; a working spool having a longitudinalaxis and a first spool of paper on the working spool, the first spool ofpaper having a first end; a reserve spool having a longitudinal axis anda second spool of paper on the reserve spool, the second spool of paperhaving a second end; first and second winders (2, 3) spaced from oneanother and parallel to each other; the first and second winders (2,3)each supports one of the working spool and the reserve spool; a drivemechanism to alternately activate the first and second winders to ensurea continuous supply of paper to the production line; a sensor fordetecting the first end of the first spool of paper on the workingspool; an automatic splicing device (6) for automatically joining thefirst end of the first spool of paper with the second end of the secondspool of paper; a trolley (63) having a trolley motor (66) to allow thetrolley to move in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis ofthe working spool and the reserve spool; at least one common plate (62)that is supported by the trolley and the at least one common platehaving a fixed axle and a plate motor (64), the plate motor allowing theat least one common plate to rotate about the fixed axle; two diversionrollers (60, 61) each having a central axle and the two diversionrollers are connected to the at least one common plate to shift betweenfirst and second connecting positions, the two diversion rollers areseparated by a predetermined fixed distance; the two diversion rollersextend at least across an entire width of one of the working spool andthe receiving spool, the two diversion rollers are designed to jointlyreceive one of the first spool of paper and the second spool of paper,the two diversion rollers rotate freely about the at least one commonplate (62) and are driven to rotate on each respective central axles byone of the first spool of paper and the second spool of paper as thesecond spool unrolls; the trolley (63) moves to position one of the twodiversion rollers to contact with one of the working spool and thereserve spool while in one of the first and second connecting positions;the plate motor (64) further comprises at least one motor (71), a motorshaft and a mechanical transmission located between the motor shaft andthe at least one common plate (62), the plate motor being designed toalternately move a platform at an angle less than 360°, with the limitsof this angle corresponding to the first and second connecting positionsfor the two diversion rollers and the angle ranges from 250° to 290°.